Book Review: Homo Deus: A Brief History Of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari

Dr Yuval Noah Harari has a PhD in History from the University of Oxford, and now lectures at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Following the global success of his book Sapiens, about the history of humankind, he turns his attention to the future.

The thrust of his argument is that rapid technological developments are evolving a new kind of human being – long-lived, possibly immortal, and hard-wired into the data processes of the internet.

Such a being is a step-change for humanity and may well look down on us mere mortals, as we already regard animals and Neanderthals as lesser incarnations.

His reasoning is laid out with a lucidity that makes it a joy to read. But his vision is terrifying and perhaps, ultimately, irresponsible.

Human rights, for example, might indeed just be another story humankind tells itself. But they’re currently our best consensual effort at a decent society.

Published by Harvill Secker